Hand tool type of sponge cleansing device



R. G. PUTZ HAND TOOL TYPE OF SPONGE CLEANSING DEVICE I Filed NOV. 5, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

Unite States Patent HAND TOOL TYPE OF SPONGE CLEANSING DEVICE Roman G. Putz, Toledo, Ohio Application November 5, 1953, Serial No. 390,273

3 Claims. c1. -136) This invention relates to swabs.

An object of this invention is to provide a swab, more particularly a hand tool for dish-washing and cleaning limited surfaces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swab which incorporates a detergent fountain therein for selectively supplying quantities of detergent to the scrubbing element thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swab having a sponge-like scrubbing element mounted on a rigid handle, the handle having a detergent supply incorporated therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide an interlock between the sponge-like scrubbing element and the rigid handle, which interlock resists any loosening therebetween due to water reaction or any reaction of the more common household detergents therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a detergent supply within the handle, which supply is accessible for selectively discharging a quantity thereof onto the scrubbing element.

And another object of this invention is to provide a refillable detergent supply within the handle.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction, to combination of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a swab embodying features of the invention herein;

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 11-11, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view on the line III-III, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view on the line IVIV, Fig. 2.

The swab herein includes a sponge-like disk-shaped pad 10 which may preferably be a plastic type sponge of the cellulose or viscose type. This sponge-like element is of disk form having a scrubbing face 12 and a second or upper face 14 disposed in spaced parallel relationship thereto. The face 14 is provided with a ring shape channel 16 therein extending about the central portion 18 of the face 14.

Nested in the channel 16 is the split, ring-shaped terminus 20 of a shell-like rigid handle 22, which handle may be a plastic molding having a comparatively thin wall, but of rigid construction. The split ring portion 20 provides the terminus of handle portion 24 inwardly merging into a cross-sectional U-shaped rigid portion 26, from which the handle terminates in a pointed portion 28. The split ring terminus and the U-shaped grip portion provides a clearway 30 to the interior of the handle throughout its length. This allows the entire outer faces of the swabbing element to come in contact with a wetting agent, the liquid directly contacting the scrubbing face 12 and through the clearway 30 to the face 14.

The split ring terminus 20 is locked in the channel 16 by means of a water-insoluble adhesive 32. This adhesive serves to weld the sponge-like plastic and the shelllike plastic together for a permanent interlocking against separation by either a flexing of the swab or by contact with the ordinary cleaning agents.

The grip portion 26, due to its U-shape, cross-sectionally forms a channel-like construction, providing a seat 34 from which extends a pair of opposing flanges 36.

A flexible plastic arcuately shaped tube 38 is charged with a liquid detergent 40 through its filling end and the chamber therein is sealed by a closure cap 42 having a central port 44 therethrough. The charged tube may be snapped into position within the handle 26 and nested in the seat 34, the side portions 36 being so dimensioned that they will slightly constn'ct the wall of the tube 38 to thereby frictionally hold such tube in position in the handle by snap action.

As the tube is positioned within the handle, the port 44 is suspended slightly above the region 18 of the scrubbing element 10. The handle and the tubemay be firmly gripped and used to scrub dishes or other surfaces, and the normal gripping of the handle in no way affects the detergent supply therein, due to the rigidity of the shell-like construction. However, an operators fingers may be inserted through the clearway to contact the tube 38 and compress the same, whereby some of the liquid detergent 40 may be expressed through the port 44 onto the central portion 18 of the swab or scrubbing element. This element, being sponge-like, the detergent will work itself throughout the sponge when such element is flexed 111 use.

When the tube is empty it may be snapped free from within the handle, refilled and reset thereinto for additional use. The shape of the handle allows pressure to be selectively exerted against any portion of the scrubbing element due to the split ring-shape interlock therebetween, and the opposite end of the handle being substantially pointed provides a handy means for scraping any material which clings after receiving normal movements of the scrubbing action of the sponge.

The horn shape of the handle element not only provides a natural grip feel for an operator, but permits a positive screened holding action for the detergent fountain, yet allows ready removal and replacement thereof.

The scrubbing face 12 of the pad 10 may be provided with a series of pattern forming grooves 46 cut or molded therein. This tends to increase the scrubbing action.

While it is preferably desirable to provide the detergent from the encased container 38, nevertheless the device may be stored within a container 48, which container has a supply of detergent therein, and the pad 10 may be replenished during storage.

The profile of the device not only provides an adequate handle, but also serves as a guide for water directly on to the scrubbing element when the device is used in a stream of water.

It is to be understood that the above description of the present invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to those skilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed as limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various Ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used in the specification relating to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed and desired to secure by United States Letters Patent:

1. In a hand tool type of sponge cleansing device, a soft absorbent pad of substantial disk form having a circular channel disposed in one face thereof,- a rigid handle having a grip portion U-shaped in cross-section flaring as it merges into a terminal portion of split-ring cross-sectional form, said terminal portion nested in said channel, a flexible tube housed within said grip portion having a discharge port directed toward the central portion of said pad face surrounded by said channel.

2. A hand tool type of sponge cleansing device of the type described embodying a soft absorbent disk having a scrubbing surface and a top surface in spaced parallel position, relative thereto, a circular channel in said top surface about the central portion thereof, a handle for said disk embodying a rigid channel element having one terminus configured to provide a split-ring cross-sectional portion, said split-ring terminus being nested in said disk providing channel from which said handle outwardly ex- 20 tends through a U-shape cross-sectional extent to terminate in a point, means interlocking said disk to said handle, and a compressible tube disposed within said rigid channel having a discharge port disposed adjacent the top surface of said pad, said tube frictionally held within said rigid channel.

3. A hand tool type of cleansing device embodying a soft absorbent disk having a scrubbing surface and a top surface in spaced parallel position relative thereto, a circular channel in said top surface about the central portion thereof, a handle for said disk embodying a rigid channel element having one terminus configured to provide a split-ring cross-sectional portion nested in the circular channel, said handle outwardly extending therefrom through a laterally curved U-shaped cross-sectional extent terminating in a point, means interlocking said disk to said handle, and a compressible tube frictionally held within the curved portion'of said handle and having a discharge port disposed for directly discharging its contentsonto the top surface of said pad.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 14,484 Elam June 11, 1918 224,033 Newton Feb. 3, 1880 792,278 McCarthy June 13, 1905 2,108,184 Wallenius Feb. 15, 1938 2,225,540 Tainton Dec. 17, 1940 2,496,371 Baker Feb. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 487,541 Canada Oct. 28, 1952 

